Macron Rejects Trump’s Proposal to Involve Putin in Israel-Iran Mediation
French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to involve Russian President Vladimir Putin as a mediator in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, arguing that Russia lacks the moral and diplomatic credibility to serve in such a role.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Reuters.
Speaking during an official visit to Greenland, Macron offered a sharp rebuke of Trump's suggestion, which followed a recent phone call between Trump and Putin.
The two reportedly discussed the growing tensions in the Middle East, including Israel’s military strikes on Iranian territory and Tehran’s subsequent retaliatory attacks.
“I do not believe that a country currently engaged in a high-intensity war, and which has deliberately violated the United Nations Charter for years, can be considered a neutral mediator,” Macron said, clearly referencing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The French president emphasized that mediation efforts require trust and legitimacy, both of which, he argued, the Kremlin has forfeited through its actions in Ukraine and its broader destabilizing role in international affairs.
While France has previously supported Israel’s defense, notably by intercepting Iranian missiles and drones from its base in Jordan in April 2024, Macron made it clear that Paris would not commit to any new military support without a formal request from the Israeli government.
He also noted a recent deterioration in Franco-Israeli relations, particularly following Israel’s humanitarian blockade of Gaza.
Trump’s proposal to include Putin in diplomatic efforts was widely criticized across European political circles, with Macron’s remarks being the most pointed rebuke to date.
Critics argue that Trump’s overtures are part of a broader effort to rehabilitate Putin’s international image, despite Russia’s pariah status in much of the West.
As The Gaze reported earlier, according to ISW, Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to shift global attention away from his war against Ukraine by portraying Russia as a key mediator amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.